# Letters Of Christian Langedul Written During His Imprisonment.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: LETTERS OF CHRISTIAN LANGEDUL WRITTEN DURING HIS IMPRISONMENT.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

The first letter of Christian Langedul, written to
his wife, Maeyken Raedts, on the 11th of August;
in which he relates the joy of his mind,
as also, on the other hand, his sorrow for his
wife and children, and, finally, how he
and his fellow-prisoners were examined.

I wish you grace and peace all the days of your
life, from God our heavenly Father, through Christ
Jesus, in the power of his holy Spirit. Amen.

My chosen and most affectionately beloved wife,
and sister in the Lord because of the faith, as I hope
by the grace of the Lord, and that this relationship
will exist forever. Matt. 12:50; Gal. 3:26.

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Had it been possible for me, I should have written
you sooner the great grace, joy and comfort
that I have enjoyed during this brief time in prison;
and I pray the Lord to let me enjoy said blessings
unto the end, to my salvation; however, the Lord
knows the great sorrow and tears I have had, and
still have, and shall yet have, before my departure
comes, for you, the children, grandmother, and for
all the friends.

I have wondered, and am still unable to comprehend
what a God it is that we have; for he is the
God of all comfort, who comforts me in all my
temptations; and I hope that he will also comfort
you whenever you need comfort. 2 Cor. 5:3.

My most beloved wife, be of good cheer in all
your sufferings which you have with me; for the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared to the glory which shall be revealed in
us; for we have thus accepted our pilgrimage, and
always counted these costs. Hence comfort yourself
with the word of the Lord, as I hope you will
do; and I also have confidence in you, that you will
not make me more sorrowful than I am already; I
know you to be too brave for it. Thus I hope that
the Lord will strengthen us unto the end. Always
pray the Lord for us, for we need it, for the prayer
of the righteous avails much, of whom you are one
in my heart’s estimation, and I hope to see you after
this life in the eternal, where we shall part no more.
And in whatever I have at any time grieved you,
forgive me for the Lord’s sake, for I gladly forgive
them everything, who have sinned against me, so
that I hope that the Lord will forgive me everything;
all my sins and weaknesses. I cannot sufficiently
wonder at, nor thank the Lord enough for
what he does for me; he is too wonderfully good a
God, this I now truly realize.

Thus I inform you that we were all examined to-day
before the Margrave, and of us six we four
freely confessed our faith, for it had to be: either
the soul or the body had to be sacrificed; the Lord
had to be either forsaken or confessed.

Thus, Hans Symons, Cornelis the shoemaker,
and Mattheus, confessed as also, I unworthy one,
and I hope to keep it to the praise of the Lord, but
not through my own power or merit, but by the
power and grace of God; for through weakness we
are made strong, this I must confess. Eph. 1:19;
2 Cor. 12:9. Hence be of good cheer in the Lord,
and do the best with the children, of whom I dare
not think, for they lie heavily on my heart.

When the Margrave examined me to-day, concerning
my faith he asked me about nothing but
baptism, and I held out against him as long as I
could, by saying that I knew but one baptism according
to the Gospel and Christ’s own command
and injunction; but his constant question was: “Say
yes or no, whether you are satisfied with the baptism
you received in your infancy, or whether you
have received another?”

I replied that I knew nothing to say about infant
baptism; but this did not suffice, I had to confess
that I had received another, and thus I confessed it,
the Lord be praised, and I have not regretted it
yet, and I hope that I shall not regret it unto the
end, for it is the truth.

I must stop, since my paper will reach no further.
Greet all the friends much in the Lord, whenever
you have a proper opportunity, as also, all friends
according to the flesh; especially, greet grandmother,
and comfort her as best you can, since I
have great anxiety for her sake, and for you and
my children. I often think of my sweet P., but I
am glad when he is out of my thoughts. Do the
best in everything; I greet you with a holy kiss of
peace. I hope the Lord will shorten my days, because
he loves me. To L. E. I hope to write yet,
when I get time; greet her much in my name.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord. Written as
above.

By me, your very weak husband, Christian Langedul,
from prison, in which I am for the testimony
of the Lord.

The second letter of Christian Langedul, in which
he relates how cruelly he was tortured, and the
misery of his body after the torture, as also,
his sure hope and firm confidence in the
Lord.

Know, my beloved wife, that yesterday about
three o’clock I had written you a letter, which I
now send you. I could not send it then, for soon
afterwards the Margrave came here to torture us;
hence I was not able to send the letter, for then all
four of us were one after another severely tortured,
so that we have now but little inclination to write;
however, we cannot forbear, we must write to you.

Cornelis the shoemaker was the first; then came
Hans Symons, with whom also the captain went
down into the torture chamber. Then thought I:
We shall have a hard time of it, to satisfy him. My
turn came next—you may think how I felt. When
I came to the rack, where were the lords, the order
was: “Strip yourself, or tell where you live.” I
looked distressed, as may be imagined. I then said:
“Will you ask me nothing further then?” They
were silent.

Then thought I: I see well enough what it means,
it would not exempt me from the torture; hence
I undressed, and fully resigned myself to the Lord,
to die. Then they racked me dreadfully, twisting
off two cords, I believe, on my thighs and shins;
they stretched me out, and poured much water into
my body and my nose, and also on my heart. Then
they released me, and asked: “Will you not yet
tell it?” They entreated me, and again they spoke
harshly to me; but I did not open my mouth, so
firmly had God closed it.

Then they said: “Go at him again, and this with
a vengeance.” This they also did, and cried: “Go
on, go on, stretch him another foot.” Then thought
I: “You can only kill me.” And thus stretched out,
with cords twisted around my head, chin, thighs,
and shins, they left me lie, and said: “Tell, tell.”

They then talked with one another of my account
which J. T. had written, of the linen, which
amounted to six hundred and fifty-five pounds; and
that it was so much cash and rebate. Then the
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Margrave said: “He understands the French well;”
and I lay there in pain. Again I was asked: “Will
you not tell it?” I did not open my mouth. Then
they said: “Tell us where you live; your wife and
children, at all events, are all gone away.” In short,
I said not a word. “What a dreadful thing,” they
said. Thus the Lord kept my lips, so that I did not
open them; and they released me, when they had
long tried to make me speak.

Thereupon two of them, the executioner and his
assistant, bore me from the rack. Think how they
dealt with us, and how we felt, and still feel. Then
they half carried, half dragged me from the torture-chamber
up into the jailer’s room, where was a good
fire of oak wood. There they, once or twice, gave
me some Rhenish wine to drink, which revived
me in a measure. And when I had warmed myself
somewhat, they again half dragged me up over
the porter’s room. There they had such commiseration
for me; they gave me wine again; they
gave me spices, and of everything you had sent me,
all of which rendered me very good service. They
had wine brought and helped me to bed. But the
sheets were very coarse, and greatly hurt my shins
and thighs; however, soon afterwards the sheets
and pillow you sent me arrived, and there were also
two or three pocket-handkerchiefs. They then covered
me with the sheets, which came very convenient
to me, as did also the spices. Had the sheets
not come, I know not how I should have passed
the night; but so I slept tolerably well. But I am
hardly able to stand yet, and the lower part of my
legs is as though they were dead from racking;
however, it is all well, as I trust by the grace of the
Lord.

We have such a God, so mighty, that he did not
suffer me to be tempted above that I was able to
bear, and I hope he will also not in the future, so
firmly I trust in him; for I know assuredly that
there will never be found another way or another
truth. Hence be instant, whether in season or out
of season. 2 Tim. 4:2.

I received your letter, and thank you much, that
you remember me so kindly, as you have always
done. I wrote you in my first letter, before I received
yours, the right answer to the letter you sent
me. I have still much to write to you, but am not
well able to do so now, for it is too soon.

After me Mattheus was tortured; he named his
house and the street in which we live, and said it
was in a gate; however, I am of the opinion that
there are no longer any gates in that street. Hence
move away altogether, if you have not done so yet;
for I think the lord will find his way there. Let
therefore no one who stands in any danger go into
the house. He also named R. T.’s house, and the
street where F. V. St. lives. Do herein immediately
the best you can. He is very sorry for it.

Cornelis and Hans told nothing. I have much
to write yet, but the time is too short. I hope to
write to-day yet, if it is the Lord’s pleasure. I wish
that H. T. would once come out. I greet you all
most affectionately. It was well that J. T. went
away yesterday, for the Margrave came soon after,
But I cannot write you much more, for the time
until day-break is too short.

Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to
the word of his grace. Pray the Lord diligently for
us, for he that asketh receiveth. I dare not let my
thoughts dwell much on the children and you; it is
so exceedingly hard for me to part from you and
them. Satisfy all the friends as best you can, for
I am tolerably well content, only it grieves me much
on their account; however, the Lord has ordered
it so.

By me, your weak husband, Christian Langedul,
in prison at Antwerp, the 12th of August, 1567.

I have not fully recovered yet from the torture,
as may be imagined; but I trust it is all well; do
not grieve too much about it. If J. T. could bring
along my account book, I should be glad; I should
show him everything, or write it down for him.
Bring us something to seal letters with.

Another letter of Christian Langedul, in which he
shows the assurance of his mind, the nothingness
of his own self, his love to his son-in-law,
J. T., and, lastly, the fear which they had
of being tortured again, and why.

Grace, mercy, and joy in the Holy Ghost, from
God our heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus,
this I wish you, my chosen and greatly beloved
wife in the Lord, and all them that love his appearing.
2 Tim. 4:8.

Dearly beloved wife in the Lord, I hope you
partly know by this time how it is with me, by the
two letters I wrote you yesterday, which I hope
you have already received. In them I wrote to you
partly concerning the state of my mind, which is
still unchanged, praise the Lord forever for his
grace, which he gives to me, poor, unprofitable and
exceedingly great sinner; for I deem myself unworthy
and unfit for this glory, to which the Lord
now calls me. Of myself or by my own strength
I cannot attain it; hence I hope by his grace to adhere
unto the end to the truth and the faith once
delivered to the saints; for I am assured in my
heart, and have certainly known it all the time of
my pilgrimage (which is now about twelve years—true,
only a short time, and imperfectly spent), that
there will never be found another. Hence I hope
to adhere to it, only by the strength and grace of
the Lord, and not through my own; and I hope by
the grace of God to rejoice, by my death, all those
whom I may at any time in my life have grieved.
And I hope that all those whom I may have wronged
in any way will forgive me, since I have always been
very ready to forgive, whenever any one wronged
me; I hope that all men and the Lord will also do
so towards me. I am greatly concerned for J. T.,
for I know his kindness; hence I will let this suffice,
and wish him, as I have often done, true faith. This
the Lord must give him; but he must also pray for
and heartily desire it. O that I might die another
death for him, and all the friends, that they might
be saved; how gladly I should do it! O! J. T.,
how much you have done for me, and, I hope, will
yet do for my weak wife (your mother), and my
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children, on whom I dare not let my thoughts dwell
much. She (your mother) is a woman who fears
God with all her heart. Associate with her, for she
will seek nothing but your common salvation. I will
let this suffice for the present, else I should not have
time to send this letter. I wrote you yesterday that
I hoped to write to you during the day, but I could
not do it; Mattheus and I lay in bed until two
o’clock, so greatly were we afraid, because the Margrave
came here to torture Cornelis again, and we
feared that we should also be tortured a second time,
of which we had a great dread, more than of death,
for it is an excruciating pain. Cornelis was tortured
and scourged to such a degree the second time,
that three men had to carry him up, and they say
that he could scarcely move a member, except his
tongue. He sent word to us, that if they come again
it is his opinion it will finish him. Thus the Margrave
did not come yesterday, but we expect him
to-day again; may the Lord help us, for it is a
horrible pain. Yesterday I received a small basket
with eatables and a night-cap from J. T. I have
lent the night-cap to Mattheus, and should like to
have another, when convenient, as also a comb,
and a Testament, a hymn book, or something else
to read, that we may delight ourselves a little with
the word of the Lord. There is a turnkey here, by
the name of Pieter, who will see that we get it. Enclosed
I send you a little memento, and W. D. B.’s
account. Yesterday evening we were told that J. T.
and P. V. D. tried hard to get to me; but it could
not be, because the Margrave had said that he
should come again; however, he did not come, for
he attended a great banquet at Mansfeld.

While I am sitting here, and writing, we are informed
that the Margrave will hold a penal court
to-day; I hope it is for us. Pray for us. I hope
God will strengthen us by his power, which surpasses
everything. O that we might be delivered
thus soon; but I am afraid it will not be.

Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to
the word of his grace. Always adhere to the truth,
which, and nothing else, I have confidence you will
do. I heartily greet you and all the godfearing with
the peace of the Lord; and Mattheus does the same.
Greet all the friends, especially grandmother, most
heartily, when convenient. Mattheus would say to
you and all the godfearing, that if he has grieved
you in that he did not guard his lips better, he is
sincerely sorry for it. Written in bonds, at Antwerp,
on the 13th of August, 1567, by me, your weak husband,

Christian Langedul.

Do the best, and be of good cheer, and pray for us.

Another letter of Christian Langedul, in which he
exhorts his brother R. L. to perseverance in the
pilgrimage begun; and, being assured in his
mind, requests, for completion, the prayers of
the saints; commends his wife to him, and
relates how a little priest came to speak
with him.

The eternal, Almighty God and Father of mercy,
through his Son, our Lord, and Savior, the same
almighty, eternal, worshipful, only wise God and
merciful Father of all grace, strengthen and stablish
you unto the end with his Holy Spirit, my dear
brother and sister in the Lord, and also according
to the flesh; that you may receive the crown of life
with all the saints and elect children of God; herewith
I will bid you final farewell and greeting in this
present time, with all dear brethren and sisters in
the Lord who live with you and know me. Amen.

My dearly beloved brother and sister, whom I
love from the bottom of my heart, I feel prompted
now at the close of my life to write you a little for a
memorial. I trust you will accept in good part, so
that it may be a perpetual memento and admonition
from this your second brother now that has been imprisoned
here in the city of Antwerp for the testimony
of the Lord, for which I hope to lay down
my life by the grace of God, and hope that you will
not faint on account of this our tribulation which we
now suffer for Christ’s sake, hoping that it happens
for the furtherance of the Gospel, and to the awakening
of many who possibly have long walked
drowsily and half asleep, (that they may become
awakened and sober); and I hope by the grace of
the Lord that it will not tend to your abatement,
but much rather to your greater edification, and that
it will serve you as a perpetual direction in your pilgrimage
which you have yet to take through a dismal
wilderness, in which you may yet meet with
many trials. Philip. 1:12; Eph. 5:14; 1 Thess. 5:6;
1 Pet. 2:11. Hence take diligent heed, and lust
not after evil things; neither be like those who murmured;
but give diligent care that you constantly
press on to the promised land, with valiant Joshua
and Caleb, so that you may take it by force. 1 Corinthians
16:6,10. And be content with the word of
the Lord, and look to the promise, for he is so faithful,
and you know that the Israelites remained without
for no other reason, than because of their unbelief.
Heb. 3:19. Hence, my dear friends, believe
God’s work, and adhere to it unto death, and God
will give you the victory. Though they seem like
giants in our eyes, we shall devour them as bread,
and this through our faith, by which we overcome
the devil, hell, death and the world. Num. 13:33;
1 John 5:4.

O dearest friends, you know that all the pious
overcame by faith, as you yourself, my dear brother,
know better than I can write it to you. Hebrews
11. Take good heed, my beloved, that you fall not
in the wilderness, as so many do; for in that case it
were better for us not to have known the truth, yea,
never to have been born; for if we lose our birthright,
wherewith will we obtain the blessing again? for it is
written that Esau sought it with tears, but found it
not. 2 Pet. 2:21; Heb. 12:17. Therefore faint not,
but firmly persevere, it is the true grace of God
wherein you stand, as I hope you yourselves know.
I doubt not that there will never be found another
way. 1 Pet. 5:12.

O brother, were another to be found, than this
anxious, narrow and strait way, how gladly should
the flesh put up with it; but it must pass the strait
gate, and O how narrow this is, so that flesh and
blood will adhere to the posts. But, dear and faithful
680
brother, what great salvation the merciful Father
has provided for me, who am so utterly unworthy;
what great thanks shall I give him for it, who has
so endowed me with his grace and provided such a
salvation for me. Continue in it, my dear brother
and sister, and pray the Lord for us, that he may
preserve us in our sorest distress, and comfort us
when we are most in affliction, and in extreme need
of consolation and help, as I hope he will do, for he
is faithful that promised it. He also will do it, and
will be with us even unto death, and not forsake us;
for who was ever confounded that trusted in him?
I hope he will not suffer us to be confounded, and
that he will finish the good work which he has begun
in us, and this through his unfathomable mercy
and grace. To this end, help us to fight, with your
prayers to God in our behalf; this is my desire and
the desire of us all; in this you can now aid us the
most.

My dear brother, why do you grieve for me;
rather take comfort in it, for the Lord has obviously
ordered it so. He loves us, and means to bring us
into rest. I feel that it is all of the Lord, for when I
for a time hear of no deliverance, I receive great joy
in my heart and refreshing from the Lord; but as
soon as something comes again, and the flesh lusts
greatly after it, joy departs, and we have great difficulty
to get it back from the Lord. Therefore I hope
that you will resign yourselves better herein, for the
Lord intends to deliver us from this body of death,
and to help us out of this anxiety. The Lord be
praised forever for the love he shows me, and that
he so helps me. I hope he will keep also you in his
truth; hence be of good cheer, and comfort yourselves
with his beautiful promise, with which also
we comfort ourselves entirely.

Therefore, dear brother, I will herewith conclude
my letter; and I kindly ask you to accept it in good
part, for it has been written to you and your dear
wife out of heartfelt brotherly love, for a perpetual
farewell and memorial. I herewith also thank you
for the great trouble and labor you have put yourself
to for my sake and for the great expense you
have on my account. I can never repay it to you;
but I hope that the Lord will recompense it to you
and yours, now and hereafter; also as regards that
other matter, which you well know. O brother, do
not let it vex you that I was so situated; I should so
gladly have done it for you and yours, as God
knows, who is acquainted with every heart. If convenient
for you, lend my wife a little assistance while
you are here, in the things in which she may need
your services, and comfort her in the exceedingly
great sorrow in which she now is; this I kindly request
of you.

Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and
to the word of his grace; may he strengthen and
stablish you in his truth unto the end of your lives,
to his praise, and to your salvation, and the salvation
of us all.

This afternoon a little, lean priest visited us. I
believe he is a Jesuit, and that he sometimes preaches
in Koppeken’s church. There is very little in the
man. The Bailiff accompanied him. He (the priest)
damned us exceedingly, which was about all he
had to say. I was with them about two hours. It
would take too long to write all. His arguments
were very weak. It seems strange to me that the
lords are not ashamed to come with such men, who
will by no means defend themselves with the Holy
Scriptures, but with the teachers of the Roman
church, with Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine,
whom [they say] we are to believe. I then confessed
that it could not be proven with the apostolical writings
that the apostles baptized infants; also, that
baptism belonged to believers, and that infants had
no faith. But he constantly asserted that the ancient
teachers had written it, and that the holy Roman
church so observed it, hence also we had to observe
it. A poor argument. The others had something at
least, but he was too wretchedly deficient. Hence it
would be too tedious to write about it.

Herewith I commend you to God. Written at
Antwerp, in prison, by me, your weak brother in
the Lord, and also according to the flesh, Christian
Langedul, imprisoned for the testimony of the Lord
and my conscience, the 10th of September 1567.

Christian Langedul’s leave and last adieu to Maeyken
Raedts, his wife after he was sentenced
to death.

Grace and peace from our heavenly Father,
through Christ Jesus, this I wish you, my dear and
chosen wife and sister in the Lord; and may the
Comforter, the Holy Ghost comfort you in your
tribulation, as he will do according to his promise.
And I trust, my wife, that all (whether tribulation
or sorrow), will tend to salvation to the Christian, as
I also trust it will conduce to your salvation, and
also to mine, although no tribulation for the
present seems to be joyous, and this according to the
words of the apostle. Heb. 12:11. However, afterward,
my beloved, it will work the peaceable fruit
of righteousness unto them that by good works
seek eternal life, as we have done according to our
weakness, for thus I may well say, and I speak it
from the heart. Nevertheless, I expect to inherit
salvation through the grace of the Lord, and am of
good cheer herein; I will therefore thank the Lord
forever for his love. O my love, the wine-press
must now be trodden; and I am quite ready for it,
the Lord be praised. Truly, he is a God of all comfort
who comforts us in all our tribulation. O that I
could fully thank the Lord for all the comfort and
strength he grants to me, unworthy one.

Therefore, my beloved, comfort yourself in the
Lord, and in his word; therein you will find such
great consolation and refreshment; and may the
Holy Ghost dwell in you with all wisdom as I doubt
not that the Spirit of God does dwell in you, and
that he will guide you into all truth and righteousness.

Your letter I received this noon; I thank you
very much for it. J. was here, but we could scarcely
speak together. I felt somewhat sorry on account
of it afterwards, when I parted from him; but the
jailer drove us away, saying that the lord was coming,
which I half thought was not so; nor was it so,
for the lord did not come. I would fain not have
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parted from him in this manner, but the Lord disposes.
Tell J. T. and his wife; that I wish their salvation
from all my heart, and that he and she, and
all men, might know the truth. If I promised it to
him in weakness, I hope, by the grace of God, tomorrow
to demonstrate it in power. J. told me that
you were writing me another letter. O my love, you
put yourself to too much trouble, I fear; do rest, for
it will soon be over with me.

Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the
word of his grace. Greet all the friends most cordially
with the peace of the Lord; greet warmly R.
Langedul; also your sister, and all the friends,
whenever it is convenient, and bid them all adieu.
Adieu, my dear lamb, adieu. Written on the 12th
of September 1567, by me, Christian Langedul,
your husband and weak brother in the Lord, imprisoned
and sentenced to death for the testimony
of Christ, and for our conscience. All four of us
greet you very much in the Lord. We are of good
cheer and courage in the Lord, as Kalleken, who
visited us, will tell you. Thank R. most heartily in
my name for his letter; it rejoiced my heart, the
Lord be praised. Amen.

Note.—As there has been put into our hands a
letter written by Hans Symons, (who was burnt at
Antwerp, A. D. 1567, together with Christian Langedul
and two others of our fellow believers) to his
wife, shortly before his death, we deem it well herewith
to insert the same; the copy of the letter reads
as follows:





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